Classical composers come alive at opera house

Thursday

Sep 27, 2007 at 3:15 AMSep 27, 2007 at 6:35 AM

Not very often in life appear opportunities to partake of some experience so special as to almost border on being unique.

On Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., those fortunate enough to be in attendance at the Franklin Opera House will experience just such a moment in time when they will be treated to the virtuosity of Alon Goldstein, coaxing the cold white and black ivory keys of a concert piano to fill the auditorium with glorious strains of classical music.

As part of the Sant Bani School Chamber Music Concert Series, the Franklin Opera House is proud to bring to the Lakes Region an artist of such world renown. Not only will you feel the music, but through Goldstein's engaging presentation, you will understand it as well.

Along with his accomplishments on stage, Goldstein enjoys one-on-one contact with aspiring young musicians in a workshop setting. He will be working with students from the Sant Bani School and the Franklin High School prior to his performing at the Opera House.

Goldstein is one of the most respected young pianists on the international scene. Admired for technical prowess and musical intelligence, he is poised to lead his talented generation. Goldstein earned his master's degree from the Peabody Conservatory, where he worked intensively with Leon Fleisher. He has earned glowing recommendations from Leon Fleisher, Claudio Abbado, and Zubin Mehta, among others.

Goldstein made his orchestra debut at the age of 18, playing the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto #1 with the Israeli Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta, which resulted in re-engagements as well as additional performances with the Jerusalem Symphony.

An audition in St. Louis for maestro Hans Vonk led to a storybook debut with the St. Louis Symphony for performances of Beethoven's Piano Concerto #4. His virtuosity, special musical sensitivity, and engaging stage manner won him wildly enthusiastic ovations, and again led to multiple re-engagements.

In recent seasons, Goldstein has played with the Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Baltimore, Vancouver and Saint Louis Symphony orchestras under such conductors as Raphael Frübeck de Burgos, Peter Oundjian, and Leon Fleisher. Other recent highlights include recitals at the Metropolitan Museum and Peoples' Symphony Concerts in New York, Dame Myra Hess Memorial concert series in Chicago, The Phillips Collection and Strathmore Hall in Washington DC. Recent international appearances include "George Enescu" Philharmonic in Bucharest, and performs with the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra, the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, the Jerusalem Camerata and the Orchestre National de l'Ile de France in addition to closing the 2004 "Proms at St. Judes" festival in London and a recital in Moscow at the Kremlin.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office, by calling 934-1901, or online at www.franklinoperahouse.org and buying online. Ticket prices are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and students are free.

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